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The St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City will start on March 16 at 11 a.m. on 5th Avenue around 44th Street.

The parade marches up 5th Avenue past St. Patrick's Cathedral at 50th Street to 79th Street, where the parade finishes at around 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. To avoid the crowds below 59th Street, the best viewing spots are suggested by the parade committee anywhere North of 66th Street and Fifth Avenue. The upper steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art also provide a great view, where viewers can get a close-up look at the marchers around 86th Street where the parade route ends.

Some of the best viewing spots will be along the north end of the parade route with a map provided HERE. The 69th Regiment of New York, 1st Battalion, will march along with Grand Marshal Alfred E. Smith IV, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other dignitaries. For a full list of the line of march, click here.

Parade organizers suggested, according to the event's official website, those interested in seeing the parade live to leave their cars at home and take the subway or train to the parade.

The 2013 grand marshal is the great-grandson of former Governor of New York Al Smith and serves as the director, secretary and dinner chairman for the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.

The parade is held each year to honor Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, and Irish faith and heritage. The parade is organized every year by community volunteers under the leadership of the St. Patrick's Parade Committee.
The parade is held every year on March 17 except when it falls on a Sunday, such as this year.

Watch the 2013 St. Patrick's Day parade live on NBC starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. (See Interactive Map After the Jump)


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